Originally Posted by
Cecelia363
I thought Batiks and hand dyed fabrics were so "processed" that they were bleed free. I am now afraid to make the quilt using Batik charms with the white back ground. Someone please calm my fears!?
Batiks and hand dyed fabrics are actually more likely to bleed because often the manufacturer (or maker) doesn't have the patience (or water) to completely rinse out all of the excess dye.
Since you have charms, I would not wash them. After the quilt is finished, though, I would plan on washing the quilt with Synthrapol in *lots* of hot water. I take my quilts to the local laundromat, use the largest front-loader they have, and am careful to select hot water. You need lots of water to dilute any bleeds, and you need hot water so the Synthrapol is activated. Synthrapol works to keep loose dye particles suspended in water so they don't settle back into fabrics.